General Overview

All students in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences build a learning and professional portfolio as part of the core curriculum. The portfolio process helps students to become self-directed and self-motivated learners during their time at UW Bothell. It encourages students to reflect on what they have learned and done, the connections they have made among courses and assignments, and how their academic accomplishments can contribute to their future goals. IAS portfolios are built through UW Google Sitesor a web platform of their choice.

The portfolio process begins when students take BIS 300 Interdisciplinary Inquiry. In BIS 300, students are introduced to the five core IAS learning objectives and complete a course portfolio that models and launches a process that culminates in the IAS Capstone Portfolio. Other Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (IAS) courses offer opportunities for students to assess their learning and develop their portfolios. After the completion of each quarter, students should archive all of their work on their google drive. Students will also benefit greatly from taking the 2-credit course, BIS 399 Portfolio Reflection, at a midpoint in their degree.

All of the undergraduate degrees housed in IAS conclude with BIS 499 Portfolio Capstone. Taken within the student's final two quarters, this 3-credit course allows students to complete their undergraduate Capstone Portfolio. These portfolios include framing essays and evidence of learning based in work completed during the degree. The portfolio provides the capstone to students' learning in IAS, while also preparing them to communicate persuasively about their learning and abilities with future audiences of potential employers, friends and family, or graduate school admissions committees.

IAS Capstone Portfolios vary since they reflect the accomplishments and ambitions of different students. You will find below a few examples of recent degree portfolios. You may need to log in with UW ID to view these samples.

Long In Fong, 2019, Media & Communication Studies: With an archive of media work via the Adobe Spark, Fong illustrates how his passion and skills in photography and video production advanced during his time at IAS.

Korey Hawkins, 2019, Community Psychology: Using a google site, Hawkins shares how his academic work has helped gain expertise in the Community Psychology major area and apply the knowledge & skills into solving the real world problems.

Highland Edelman, 2019, Law, Economics & Public Polocy: Edelman utilizes a new webtool (wixsite) to curate her research in LEPP and her academic experience in UWB.

Dana Connell, 2012, Global Studies:In this portfolio, this author distills her experiences in IAS through a letter to her daughter.

Note: Students admitted to an IAS degree program prior to Autumn 2010 may complete BES 464, BIS 403, BIS 490, or BIS 492 in the place of BIS 499 Portfolio Capstone. If you choose this option, you will create your IAS Capstone Portfolio in that course.

*Non-textual assignments can be difficult to retain, but they can be extremely valuable. Students may be able to have Campus Media videotape their performance and request a copy. Other students may take digital photos of a group poster or installation. Assignments on web discussion boards and other web-based media should be archived before the course ends.